Bali can be both too small or too big at the same. For me, it has just been perfect!

I had the chance to spend 10 amazing days in the island and I experienced sooo many different things! Here is just a list of the 10 most amazing ones!

1 – Get lost through the rice terrace.

There are thousands of rice terraces all around Bali even where you won’t ever imagine! Just right around the corner, even in the most unsuspicious part of each city, you can find one.

The most unbelievable one for me, for example, was the one in Ubud.
One day, by chance, I just saw a small sign at the edge of the road. It indicated to take a very small and narrow road to reach the “most beautiful rice terraces of Ubud”.

My boyfriend thought it was “too” suspicious, and while walking towards the small street there, at some point, I thought the same. But, luckily I am the kind of traveller who doesn’t really care too much about “safety”. I do always thing that the best and most incredible things are just people are too afraid to go to.

And even that day, my thought was confirmed. Right after few thousands of meters, the most incredible view came to our eyes!

But, as I said, there are really other thousands more. The most famous ones, for example, are the Tegallalang Rice Terrace.
They are more characteristic, also thanks to the hill on which they extend.

2 – Be fascinated by hundreds of monkeys in the Ubud Forest.

It’s really hard to explain how I felt while visiting this park.
I’ve seen monkeys several times before, during zoos safaris, at the zoo (although I’ve always hated zoos), but here it’s different ’cause you can’t only see them up close, but the monkey here can also literally jump into your arms!

The best thing about this park is that the monkeys live in their own environment and you can really see them moving in their daily routine. Fighting, cuddling, playing water games and why not, even having some crazy time with visitors to the park!

Yes, because obviously you can’t think you’re smarter than them. You think you can hide food at the bottom of your backpack, but they’ll find it and they’ll do their best to take it away from you!

So just a tip: avoid food and drinks (including bottles of water) if you want to live a unique experience and do not want to risk being attacked by some hungry monkey or just thirsty!

It’s incredible how they learnt how to open any kind of bags, any bottles and even how to steal it from everyone. No matter how long they should stay on your shoulders!

Personally, next time I will also avoid the pearl-shaped earrings, as a witty monkey mistook them for peanuts and jumped on my head!

But don’t be afraid, there are so many security men around that they will help you in any case. Just don’t be stupid!

Don’t try to touch them, don’t stay to close, just let them come with some food on your hands if you wanna take some pictures with them and then, don’t move!

3 – Enjoy a Balinese Dance

The Ubud Palace is definitely the best place where to watch a real traditional Balinese Dance.

During the first 5 minutes I am pretty sure you’ll think it’s absurd and ridiculous what you’re looking at, but if you get seduced by the typical Balinese music and try to understand the masks and metaphors represented on the stage, you’ll discover a magnificent world hidden behind the hands of the dancers and the feet of the dancers. 

The cost for appreciating this Balinese tradition is really low. With less than 3/5€ per person you can access to the evening show lasting about an hour and a half.

And if you don’t wanna spend all this time in Ubud, other smaller cities offer the same opportunity to attend even shorter shows.

Can you imagine that the art of dancing is taught since the age of 5 to all the girls on the island? Then why should you miss the opportunity to see such a typical show?

4 – Experience the thrill of the Bali swings

On the island you will find an incredible number of swings – on rice terraces, on rivers, on the sea, near temples, just everywhere!

If you suffer from heights, they might not be the best experience ever, but I if you only have a small desire to try it..I am pretty sure you won’t regret it!

I personally tried it twice. And the second time, was even better!

Yes, ’cause I already knew how it would have been, and I could really enjoy the moment!

In most of the cases you can also experience to try backwards!

And if you think you can’t do it alone, try the tandem!
What if your boyfriend refuses to try it, as mine? Well, force him to take at least a picture on a nest on the tree!

5 – Eat like some delicious food as a local at a roadside Warung 

The Warung are small, cheap and often family run restaurants. They are the cheapest places to eat in Bali if you wanna have a seat. Just try to find the authentic ones, not the ones made for tourist, to enjoy the real local food!

For just €3-4 you can taste so many delicious, authentic foods including nasi goreng, babi guling, beef rendang, tempe manis and much much more!!

6 – Try every kind of water sports

I know that water sports are typical of any place by the sea. And I can already imagine the question you’re asking yourself: why should I try a new water sport right in Bali?

The answer is pretty simple: they are so fucking cheap here, that you can try all of them!

One tip though. You’ll find hundreds, indeed thousands, of small “companies by the sea” that will try to let you experience their activities. I definitely strongly recommend you not to go for the cheapest ones, because they will clearly have the cheapest or oldest equipment ever.

So, whether it’s for a new water sport, for getting back on a surfboard among the waves of the Ocean, or just for diving…as always: stay away from the mega-sales of the season!

7 – Go rafting along the river

The often unspoilt nature of Bali is something you will hardly forget. But even more so if you explore it on rafting journey (not so fast..!) of the Ayung River in Ubud.

Even here, the choice among the several rafting centres is really wide, but my tip is still not to choose the cheapest structure, but the most reliable one!

I chose Mason Adventures for my experience as it provides the longest rafting journey (2.5 hours) and the experience wasn’t just great, but really unforgettable.

8 – Have dinner on the beach with a perfect sunset view

There’s definitely no other better way to end a perfect day in Bali then enjoying the sunset at the beach.

And my tip is: do it while drinking a beer and waiting for your fresh fish to be grilled and served to you!

Kuta’s beach is one of the most known places for it, but I personally really preferred the Jimbaran beach for all its awesome restaurants on the beach!

We chose it really by choice, but as far as I saw from the other restaurants, you can easily go to anyone there and the experience will be amazing. You can choose your own food from

You can choose your fish directly from the fishermen’s crates or the crustaceans still alive directly from the water tanks!
Choose the cooking method and the extra side dish and enjoy it all served on the beach, directly at your table with your feet in the sand!

In addition to the side dishes included (white rice and local vegetables made a little spicy) we chose just a portion of French fries. An unforgettable dinner!

9 – Get an ultra-relaxing massage with the forest view!

Around the island you will find thousands, maybe millions, of massage centres and you will always want to stop and get one. I can definitely understand you!

I felt soooo lucky to get a massage included in my booking at the Kupu Kupu Barong Resort in Ubud!
The massage lasted 60minutes and I got it in a spa on a tree, with the forest view – Okay, no need to say, it was amazing!

But if you can’t enjoy a similar experience, at least take one of the very low cost massages on the island. Whether it’s a full body massage or a simple hand or foot massage, do it! Just for 5€ or 10€ you’ll enjoy a moment of relax just for yourself!

10 – Lose yourself on the streets of any city of the island

My tip for any destination is to explore any place by wandering around without a clear destination. And in Bali that’s the best advice I can give you.

For example, by losing myself around the streets of Ubud and Kuta and out of town I had the chance to see the real Balinese life.

Traveling is not something you are good at. Its something you do. Like breathing.      –   cit. Gayle Foreman   (& me)